A@W Newsletter

Lightweight construction with wood-based materials

26 September 2024

What is the lightest wood in the world? How large (XXXL) are the panel dimensions of modern wood-based materials? What are the advantages of lightweight blockboards, wood fiber boards or renewable acoustic absorbers?

The new Rectorate of Roma Tre is an icon of sustainability and architectural innovation

26 September 2024

Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, the new university complex on Via Ostiense, a historically significant road in ancient Rome, occupies a part of the city shaped by distinctive environmental and social factors, within a context of ongoing transformation and renewal.

Warm Nest health Care Centre: where design meets healing

26 September 2024

Experience an evolution in healthcare design at Belgium’s Warm Nest Heathcare Centre. Here the architecture and interiors have been meticulously created to nurture mind, body and soul. Every space is crafted to embrace the human experience with warm and tranquillity through thoughtful use of materials and colours. 

Tim Fu on AI in architecture

27 June 2024

AI is revolutionising the field of architecture as Tim Fu, founder of Studio Tim Fu Ltd, explained in a recent lecture at ARCHITECT@WORK Brussels, where he talked about the practical applications and future directions in architectural design.

Explore summer’s cultural hotspots in the UK

27 June 2024

Whether you’re visiting a new place or exploring your neighbourhood, there are cultural happenings popping up across this summer around the UK.

Facade of Silt Middelkerke braves Belgian coastal weather under optimal conditions

27 June 2024

The coast presents one of the most challenging environments for facades. Wind, salt, and sand relentlessly batter buildings, making meticulous care of the exterior essential rather than optional. The recently completed event building in Middelkerke, finished in March of this year, exemplifies efficient and creative solutions to these challenges. Aptly named Silt, this striking structure is situated directly on the beach and features a distinctive oval hotel tower, making it a new landmark on the Belgian coast.

Going micro in the mountains

25 April 2024

Scandinavians love getting close to nature, but new cabins and cottages are pricey and put vulnerable and pristine environments under pressure. That’s why some people are turning to architecturally designed, prefabricated micro cabins.

Ghent Barracks transformed into new city hub

25 April 2024

Repurposing historic sites within cities is a current architectural trend, and a project in Ghent provides a prime example, with the transformation of the renowned Leopold Barracks. Works commenced in 2019 to repurpose this space into a mixed use scheme for living, life, and experience. Occupation by a variety of users began in March 2023.

Fascinating facades that shape urban identities

25 April 2024

Discover a plethora of transformative design ideas for facades using a range of materials such as brick, clay and timber that give people pause for thought when passing or entering the building and enlivening the streetscape in the process.

Where creativity meets innovation in custom design

7 March 2024

Make the most of modulyss’ high-quality carpet tiles with its custom design service. This makes it even easier for designers and architects to transcend the traditional and merge creativity, functionality to reshape spaces harnessing the power of versatile composition, precision printing, quick turnaround times and a 15-year warranty.

Cutting edge yet timeless Italian bathroom design

7 March 2024

Catalano's Tonalità Collection completely redefines bathroom design with a creative, practical and environmentally responsible approach. Inspired by the beauty of nature, this range offers a wide-ranging colour palette which seamlessly integrates into any interior, as well as boasting innovative antibacterial enamels and harnessing Industry 4.0, its revolutionary approach to manufacturing. 

Acquire a taste for it

7 March 2024

Designing a culinary venue is always a special challenge for architects and interior designers: on the one hand, you can let off steam creatively, but on the other, you have to hit the bull's eye to be inviting and draw attention to yourself. Because no matter what's on the menu: you always eat with your eyes.

A look at London’s timber revolution

7 March 2024

As ARCHITECT@WORK’s London edition rapidly approaches, we take a look at the innovative use of timber in architecture, interiors and design across the residential and commercial sectors, a topic to be discussed at one of the sessions within the comprehensive speaker programme.

Showing a new side to facades

7 March 2024

Facades provide a protective layer and also have an aesthetic appeal but in the coming years what will prevail in terms of priorities is sustainability as the architecture and design community increasingly feels a strong obligation to play its part in tackling climate change. Our new series of articles in 2024 presents the potential of facades to be truly cutting edge in this area.

GXN: 'In addition to wood, we continue to need concrete, but we need a different kind of concrete’

30 November 2023

During Architect@Work Amsterdam, the Netherlands, architects Aleksander Kongshaug (GXN) and Christian Veddeler (3XN) delivered a lecture about the next steps in circular and bio-based construction. Architectenweb spoke briefly to Kongshaug about what he is currently focusing on at GXN.

Architects Talking Architecture: Ross Lovegrove

30 November 2023

Architect and writer Enrico Leonardo Fagone discusses the creative process with industrial designer Ross Lovegrove.

No limits to innovation in outer London

30 November 2023

While the centre of the city might garner much attention for its cutting-architecture and design, there are gems to be found in the outer boroughs of the UK capital too, from Barking in the east to Croydon in the south.

With the Power of Place

3 October 2023

In 2016, Pascal Marx and two colleagues founded the architecture firm Ruumfabrigg, based in Glarus Nord and Zurich. In his work, the young architect, who graduated from ETH Zurich, focuses on the places where the projects are built in order to work out the potentials, special features and characteristics from the “genius loci”, which often only become apparent during intensive examination. This forms the basis for the concepts and creates awareness in order to ultimately give added value back to the place.

When Beauty is also sustainable

3 October 2023

For a long time, buildings were given a classic plaster façade in a variety of ways, which slowly went out of fashion. Later, the glass-only façades spread explosively, which - depending on their composition - are also not always the optimal solution with regard to the climate issue. So why not consider something "in between"?

How west London has found a winning formula for the built environment

3 October 2023

From the heart of the West End, heading out towards Earl’s Court and Chelsea Harbour, various elements of this part of the UK capital are having a renaissance, thanks to some innovative master planning by developers, architects and designers.

Adaptive reuse architecture

29 June 2023

The topic of waste is currently on many agendas and reuse is taking several forms such as making shoes out of fishing nets or orange peel that is repurposed into mobile phone covers. This is mainly motivated by sustainability aspirations, but using waste materials could also have so many other advantages.

The power of sharing in sustainable design

29 June 2023

Hoping to drive the growth of sustainability in the building sector, Danish architecture firm Vandkunsten are sharing their digital tools with the world. Architect Jan Schipull Kauschen gives us an insight into the thinking behind opensource@vandkunsten.

Summer happenings in the UK

29 June 2023

Creative communities in the UK and around the world have been hard at work creating some innovative exhibitions and installations on display just in time for the summer months.

Healthy indoor climate with straw

25 May 2023

Daylight, acoustics, room temperature and indoor air quality play an important role in indoor well-being. Room humidity also has a major influence: air that is too dry can irritate the mucous membranes and promote headaches, while air that is too humid can lead to mould growth on the walls. It is true that regular ventilation helps to reduce the concentration of pollutants, dust and allergens in indoor air. But it is even better if such harmful substances do not accumulate indoors in the first place.

SBID’s Vanessa Brady on sustainability in interior design

25 May 2023

The founder of this professional body talks about its work in supporting its members to be more sustainable including innovations to the manufacturing process and supply chain.

What it means to be an architect

25 May 2023

Architects are all-rounders: creativity, comprehensive technical knowledge, and the ability to multitask are part and parcel of their professional toolbox. But what inspires them? What drives them? And how do they realise their visions? In this new newsletter article series, we dive into contemporary creative minds and talk about passions and challenges.

Intergenerational Living: the Future of Housing?

16 March 2023

Intergenerational living is a new idea based on an old model. Will the concept and the advantages therein survive following the upheavals of the last two years, both in the private and public domain? 

Canary Wharf and the Docklands areas reinvents itself

16 March 2023

After more than three decades, there’s definitely a chance now for innovation to meet modern working and living demands in the E14 postcode: some of the original buildings in and around Canary Wharf are ripe for retrofit and repurposing while elsewhere new structural additional give new life and meaning to this part of east London.

ARCHITECT@WORK London talks area features a programme of top-tier architecture and design voices

16 March 2023

An ever-popular part of the show, the annual programme of talks showcases the latest thinking within the architecture and design community.

Nature-inspired, sustainable flooring that rethinks spatial design

16 March 2023

Artcore from modulyss® takes its cues from the wild, transforming what soft flooring can do to reimagine a space, with a strong sustainability story underpinning its design. 

Innovative integration of a door into interior design plans

16 March 2023

Rocket ULTRA offers a further development in flush-to-wall door design, creating a seamless, design-led feel to any interior.

When innovative design responds to sustainability

24 November 2022

Spanish company Nanimarquina has been on a sustainable journey in the way its beautiful hand-woven rugs are designed and produced.

Mancunian magic

24 November 2022

One of the UK largest cities, Manchester’s architecture and design developed rapidly during the 19th and 20th centuries. Now, as skyscrapers sit alongside its traditional red-brick buildings, what comes next in terms of architectural innovation for this proud, mercantile city?

Good architecture for everyone

24 November 2022

Making the impossible possible: Swiss architect Gus Wüstemann has succeeded in giving housing a bit more equality.

Danish architects designing the tallest timber building

24 November 2022

The Danish design studio Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects (SHL) designs the world's tallest residential building with a load-bearing structure in wood.

Installations that make architecture beautiful

29 September 2022

The beginning of the revolution has a date: 31 January 1977, the day of the inauguration of the Georges Pompidou National Centre of Art and Culture in Paris. For the first time, installations are the protagonists of architecture: a tangle of pipes, channels, valves and fittings embraces the volume of the building, designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini.

Automated space-saving parking solutions

29 September 2022

Parking is often at a premium especially in highly-populated urban locations. Fortunately, Lödige Industries has solutions that cleverly save space

Design starts with rethinking materials

29 September 2022

Bonnie Hvillum, the founder of Natural Material Studio, is designing materials for the future. Some of her studies have been presented at A@W Copenhagen on 7-8 September 2022.

Art Deco-inspired wallcoverings

29 September 2022

The Divina wallcovering collection from Italian company Glamora creates refined and bright interiors, thanks to its combination of exquisite materials and patterns.

22 Bishopsgate showcases wellbeing and new ways of working

29 September 2022

At the City of London’s tallest tower, 22 Bishopsgate, architects PLP haven’t just created an innovative place to work but have also been mindful of this office building’s  occupants’ health and wellbeing, as well as showing respect for the public realm.

UK summer happenings

30 June 2022

As the nights get lighter, we take a look at what designers have created for the various events in summer 2022, from the Commonwealth Games to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to a celebration of architecture at the Serpentine pavilion.

The Van Schijndel House (NL) - An Experimental Home Built from Light and Air

30 June 2022

If there is one house that reflects the vision of its designer perfectly, then it is the Van Schijndel House in Utrecht. We are taking you to this house, situated on the Pieterskerkhof, where the architect/product designer and his wife Natascha Drabbe lived upon completion of the construction in 1992. Drabbe, an architectural historian, who has continued to live in the house since her husband's untimely death in 1999, takes us on a tour of her now iconic house.

She Builds

30 June 2022

Women architects are on the rise. Despite still being underrepresented in executive positions, it can no longer be overlooked that by 2022 more than half of the students will already be women, who are conquering spaces, buildings and entire cities for themselves.

Today’s Importance of Sustainable Architecture & Design

31 May 2022

When designing a building today, the environmental concerns are many: what materials will last for many years into the future while being produced with little environmental footprint? How does one design for permanence, creating architecture and design that will be relevant for decades into the future? And how does the dilemma of quality versus raw material used play into the equation?

The Fascination of a Building Envelope

31 May 2022

Visions only become reality when thoughts turn into concrete ideas. With this conviction, architect and industrial designer Kai Stania designed his own house, which fascinates not only because of its geographical location high above Vienna, but above all with its own choreography.

Camden’s renaissance

31 May 2022

Not since the Noughties when Amy Winehouse called it home has London’s Camden been so in vogue with buildings being refreshed and new cultural destinations being created. 

Architect couple designed their own floating home

31 March 2022

Probably one of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect is designing a house for themselves. In each issue of our newsletter, we show you a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

Coated bricks made to create sustainably attractive facades

31 March 2022

One of Europe’s largest producers of bricks, Vandersanden has launched a range of coated bricks and hopes to expand into the UK market while maintaining its strong track record in sustainability.

The glory of Greenwich’s Design District

31 March 2022

Greenwich in south London is where you’ll find a new hub for creatives to come to work and play together in a series of buildings designed by cutting-edge architects.

Innovation in outdoor heating

31 March 2022

The new Eclipse series of outdoor heating solutions with integrated lights from Bromic Heating provides superior design, warmth and functionality for outside spaces.

Air and Architecture announced as ARCHITECT@WORK London theme upcoming 13 & 14 of April

31 March 2022

Architect@Work reaches higher than ever before, exploring the theme of air and architecture when it returns to its physical format at London’s Truman Brewery for its 2022 edition. 

Winter wonders

30 November 2021

As the nights draw in, architects and designers have been making the most of the dark skies with some spectacular lighting installations from window displays to illuminated gardens.

Nature as inspiration for high quality, sustainable flooring

30 November 2021

Our natural surroundings have and always will be a rich and ever-present source of inspiration. Flooring specialist 2tec2 has harnessed the trend for nature-inspired environments and combined it with a dedication to preserving the world beneath our feet for its latest innovative collections Marble and Desert.

Announcing the ARCHITECT@WORK London theme

30 November 2021

ARCHITECT@WORK reaches higher than ever before, exploring the theme of air and architecture when it returns to its physical format at London’s Truman Brewery for its 2022 edition.

When the architect is the owner

30 November 2021

Probably one of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect is designing a house for himself. In each issue of our newsletter we show you a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

The impact of colour in architecture and design

28 October 2021

French 20th century painter and illustrator Pierre Bonnard’s insistence that “Colour does not only add a pleasant quality to design, it reinforces it”. still rings true now more than ever. The use of colour today is an ever-more apparent element in the world of architecture and design as exemplified by numerous projects from around the world. 

Recycled materials in commercial interiors

28 October 2021

Whether it’s a worktop, a wallcovering or elsewhere within a commercial interior, recycling or repurposing materials is a trend that’s set to continue as COP26 in Glasgow approaches and all sectors including architecture and design consider their responsibility to the environment. 

Cheese Barge brings fun to bear in Paddington

28 October 2021

Adam Richards Architects has designed a floating restaurant featuring a rich palette of materials that aims to enliven Paddington Central’s culinary scene with a menu that focuses on fromage.

When the architect is the owner

30 September 2021

Probably one of the most difficult construction tasks for an architect is designing a house for himself or herself. In each issue of our newsletter we show you a successful international example of an architect who has taken on this particular challenge.

The beauty of bronze

30 September 2021

While bronze may mean third position in the Olympics, it’s increasingly the first choice for architects and designers in a variety of external uses and interior details.

The appeal of Italian craftsmanship for the UK market

30 September 2021

Design Driven Ltd is a specialist in marble, natural stone and mosaic, with a mission to export Italian craftsmanship to the UK, something embodied by the two innovative brands it partners with: Grassi Pietre and Friul Mosaic.

Beautiful from the inside out

30 September 2021

The ‘inside out’ revolution can be traced back to when the Georges Pompidou National Centre of Art and Culture opened in Paris in 1977. It marked the beginning of an architectural style which used mechanical systems – such as pipes, channels, valves and fittings – to embrace a building’s envelope. Here we trace the movement’s evolution. 

Public spaces for summer and beyond

29 July 2021

While the UK might not be enjoying the summer it hoped for, in terms of the weather there are plenty of places where the public can enjoy exceptional creative work that mixes art, design and architecture.

Embracing imperfect recycled plastics

29 July 2021

Why attitudes to recycled plastics have changed so much since 2005.

The coworking revolution continues

29 July 2021

Coworking has been a popular part of the workplace design landscape for well over a decade now and many UK iterations of this flexible working concept continue to innovative in terms of design and service offer.

Traditional forms reinterpreted – Villa Void, Norway

29 July 2021

With its clear lines Villa Void is inspired by the forms of existing houses in the neighbourhood. The combination of materials—darkgrey Swisspearl panels on the outer skin, and a warm wooden interior, also used on the recessed exterior areas—underline the sculptural character of the house.

The UK's take on outdoor space

24 June 2021

The rainy British summer usually means that the country lags behind its European counterparts when it comes to al fresco living, dining and working. Last year’s Covid-19 restrictions has inspired architects and designers to adjust their attitude to outdoors with innovative results.

On-trend blush shades continue to wow

24 June 2021

Blush shades have been popular for a few years now but architects and designers have continued to push the boundaries in their application in a variety of environments.

Biophilic design takes centre stage

24 June 2021

Originally pioneered in the 1980s, biophilic design is now being adopted by large corporates and architecture firms alike, keen to harness the benefits of man’s connection with nature.

The challenges of discrete shading

24 June 2021

Driven by customers’ needs, Silent Gliss offers bespoke curtain and blind systems complemented by expert technical advice to address the challenges in achieving the perfect balance of light and shade.

Terrazzo's time is now

27 May 2021

From kitchen worktops and bathroom splashbacks to flooring and reception desks, terrazzo is finding popularity in all sorts of guises. But what makes this ancient material fit for the here and now and how are architects and designers innovating in using it?

Eco-conscious wallcovering hits the mark

27 May 2021

Responding to demand from architects, designers and other stakeholders in the built environment for greener materials, Belgian firm Omexco has developed High Performance. This innovative new wallcovering collection offers a sustainable choice as well as a stylish and sturdy one.

A flexible home from home

27 May 2021

Workplace strategy and office design specialists BDG architecture + design has collaborated with Tollgard Design Group which has worked on many residential projects on the new offices for fintech firm Paymentsense in London. Combining both these design disciplines, the result is a hybrid workspace that feels like home.

Next level living

27 May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that a high percentage of the world’s population has spent most of 2020 confined to their homes which have become hubs for work, exercise and education as well as leisure. Design and technology have driven new innovations that support the evolution of the home into a clean, safe and sustainable space with an integrated, digital ecosystem.

When the landscape becomes architecture

27 May 2021

In the past, architecture symbolised man’s struggle with overcoming structural and technological challenges that the landscape presented. Today, we are starting to see something quite different: buildings where the relationship to nature and the ground is much more subtle.

What moves architects and interior designers?

29 April 2021

Community news and emerging trends in the new and carefully curated A@W Newsletter. Coming up next in our expansion plan is the brand new A@W Newsletter, which will inform architects, interior designers, planners and design enthusiasts about the latest in product innovations,  expert opinions and trends in architecture & design.

Carnegie School of Sport transformed by tiles

29 April 2021

Architects Sheppard Robson recently designed the Carnegie School of Sport in Leeds with a contemporary look and feel including a robust flooring finish from Mosa, befitting one of the largest providers of sport in UK higher education.

A modern family home using stunning marble

29 April 2021

Alexander Owen Architecture transformed a couple’s house in south London using marble as one of the main materials, something more usually associated with great palaces or high-end villas. Pieces of marble were cleverly fitted together here to create a stunning effect for this modern family home, which comes complete with a bar for outdoor entertaining, as well as an alternative workspace.

Acoustics in action

29 April 2021

Acoustic panels can play a key role in a range of environments, not just in terms of banishing noise but also enhancing the overall appearance of an interior, and upholding sustainability credentials as Italian firm CUF Milano demonstrates.

Residential sector embraces work life balance

29 April 2021

As homeworking becomes a long-term solution, rather than a short-term fix, so clients in the residential sector are increasingly looking to architects and designers to come up with creative solutions that separate work and home life.

The beauty of glazed bricks

29 April 2021

Glazed bricks from AAB, the UK arm of Dutch brick manufacturer Rijswaard Baksteen, are a beautiful addition to a project, providing not only stunning aesthetics but also durability. Advances in manufacturing by AAB’s supply partner Mora Ceramics have also reduced their environmental impact.